Very early Friday morning, my computer received one of those annoying updates from Mr. Gates.
When the computer re-booted, something happened, leaving the monitor black, no lights on the keyboard, and it just sat there. Humming and doing nothing.
The monitor has been losing it's resolution for a while, but, turned out that wasn't the problem.
Spent Friday afternoon with the tech, and, well, the computer is dead. Another fried motherboard.
I'm currently using the back-up - Bill Clinton was in his first term when it was new. It's horribly slow, has a very small memory, and saves all artwork as bitmaps (among other charming quirks).
The new motherboard will set me back $547 $527 (Thanks, Linda!), but I should have my old computer back tomorrow (or maybe Wednesday).
OTOH, I'm starting to wonder if maybe it's a sign to pack it in.
Poor Elijah (Peter Berger): Zombie Education (irascibleprofessor.com)
I'm not crazy about technology. I chose the word "crazy" on purpose. That's because many technology boosters say that people who resist the onslaught of silicon gadgets are motivated by fear. They call me a "technophobe," and phobias are a form of neurosis.
Marc Dion: Pieces of the War (Creators Syndicate)
During the Vietnam War, talking about your boy "coming home in a box" was a big deal, a stunner, an ugly piece of language meant to shock the Stetson right off LBJ's sunburned-scaly head. Nowadays, when they send your boy home in a box, you can't even be sure all of him is in there.
Terry Savage: VA Loans a Great Deal for Veterans (Creators Syndicate)
We just celebrated Veterans Day - and if this story seems familiar, it's because I have written several times about the great deal that the Veterans Administration mortgage loan program offers to those who have served our country: 3.875 percent, 30-year, fixed-rate mortgages.
Sam Harris: "The Truth about Violence: 3 Principles of Self-Defense"
If someone puts a gun to your head and demands your purse or wallet, hand it over immediately and run. Don't worry about being shot in the back: If your attacker is going to shoot you for running, he was going to shoot you if you stayed in place, and at point-blank range. By running, you make yourself harder to kill. Any attempt to move you, even by a few feet-backing you off a sidewalk and into an alley, forcing you behind a row of bushes-is unacceptable and should mobilize all your physical and emotional resources.
Marilyn Preston: "Menu Aerobics: How to Eat Out Without Pigging Out" (Creators Syndicate)
Dining out has become our national pastime. So has porking up. Is there a link between the two? You bet your Krispy Kremes. We're a fast food nation of overeating eater-outers, and if you want to trim down and stay healthy, you've got to wise up when it comes to ordering a restaurant meal. Fish before steak; veggies over carbs. Eating out isn't the enemy. Spacing out is.
Spot-On My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic Cosplay Re-enactment
YouTube user LuluPopVampire and her waifu (you can Google that term to learn what it means, but I wouldn't necessarily recommend it) arranged this re-enactment of a scene from My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic for a cosplay competition. It's completely convincing, despite the absence of hooves.
My Favorite Memory of Bil Keane (beyond-black-friday.com)
Though he published nearly 100 books, not a single one of them is available for the Kindle. For more than 50 years, cartoonist Bil Keane wrote the one-panel 'Family Circus' comic strips which appeared in 1,500 newspapers around the world. Some readers complained that its sweet familiarity was out of place in the modern world. But when Bil Keane collided with wise guys, both on Amazon.com and on the web, he ultimately proved that he was a very good sport.
David Bruce has 42 Kindle books on Amazon.com with 250 anecdotes in each book. Each book is $1, so for $42 you can buy 10,500 anecdotes. Search for "Funniest People," "Coolest People, "Most Interesting People," "Kindest People," "Religious Anecdotes," "Maximum Cool," and "Resist Psychic Death."
Spider webs have existed for at least 140 million years, as witnessed in a rare find of Early Cretaceous amber from Sussex, southern England.
Source
BadtotheboneBob was first, and correct, with:
Web from the infamous Michigan 'Snow Spider'.
Alan J wrote
140 Million years.
Sally said:
"If it seems like spiders, scorpions, ticks and mites have been around forever, it's because they nearly have, according to new genetic research that found these arachnids first emerged at least 400 to 450 million years ago."
PS: I have no problem with spiders, and never kill them on purpose. Actually, I don't like to kill any creature. I have taught my children, and grandchildren how to catch and release... I don't bother them, and in turn, they don't bother me.
PPS: Except for ants. I struggle yearly with them. They are so determined, but this year I used vinegar and dish soap which seemed to work. I explained it all to them, and then they went... No joke!
Charlie responded:
140,000,000 years, to the early Cretaceous. The fossil was found in 2009 in Bexhill, East Sussex.
Spiders themselves go back much farther.
Adam answered:
Bees are found in the cretaceous era, so I figure about the same time.
Marian replied:
140 million years or longer
Jim from CA, retired to ID, said:
Spider webs have existed for at least 140 million years, as witnessed in a
rare find of Early Cretaceous amber from Sussex, southern England.
MAM wrote:
Spiders have had spinnerets for extruding silk for at least 400 million years. The world's oldest spider web - complete with captured prey - has been discovered, preserved in 110-million-year-old amber.
CBS opens the night with a FRESH'How I Met Your Mother', followed by a FRESH'2 Broke Girls', then a FRESH'2½ Men', followed by a FRESH'Mike & Molly', then a FRESH'Hawaii Five-0'.
Scheduled on a FRESHDave are Jason Segel and the Kooks.
Scheduled on a FRESHCraig are Poppy Montgomery, Charlie Higson, and Lauren Graham as the voice of Geoff.
NBC begins the night with a FRESH'The Sing Off', followed by a 'Rock Center With Brian Williams'.
Scheduled on a FRESHLeno are Amy Adams, Rocket City Rednecks, and Miranda Lambert.
Scheduled on a FRESHJimmy Fallon are Jane Lynch, Ron Howard, and Bela Fleck & the Flecktones.
On a RERUNCarson 'The Scab' Daly (from 10/7/11) are Mike White, Seven Grand Whiskey Society, and Biffy Clyro.
ABC starts the night with a FRESH'Dancing With The R's', followed by a FRESH'ABC 'News' Special'.
Scheduled on a FRESHJimmy Kimmel are Sarah Michelle Gellar, Miss Piggy, and the Belle Brigade.
The CW offers a FRESH'Gossip Girl', followed by a FRESH'Hart Of Dixie'.
Faux has a FRESH'Terra Nova', followed by a FRESH'House'.
MY recycles an old 'L&O: SVU', followed by another old 'L&O: SVU'.
A&E has 'Hoarders', another 'Hoarders', followed by a FRESH'Hoarders', then a FRESH'Monsters-In-Law', and another FRESH'Monsters-In-Law'.
AMC offers the movie 'Lake Placid', followed by the movie 'Jurassic Park', then the movie 'Jurassic Park II'.
BBC -
[1:00AM] The Tudors-Episode 6
[2:00AM] The Tudors-Episode 7
[3:00AM] The Tudors-Episode 8
[4:00AM] The Tudors-Episode 9
[5:00AM] The Tudors-Episode 10
[6:00AM] BBC World News
[7:00AM] BBC World News
[8:00AM] The Graham Norton Show-Ep 12 - Vince Vaughn, Sarah Millican, P. Diddy
[9:00AM] The Graham Norton Show-Ep 10 Bill Bailey, Kelly Rowland
[10:00AM] Gordon Ramsay's F Word-Episode 10
[11:00AM] Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmares-Ep 6 Clubway 41
[12:00PM] Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmares-Ep 1 The Secret Garden
[1:00PM] Gordon Ramsay's F Word-Episode 11
[2:00PM] Gordon Ramsay's F Word-Episode 12
[3:00PM] Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmares-Ep 4 The Fish and Anchor
[4:00PM] Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmares-Ep 7 Jack's Waterfront
[5:00PM] Star Trek: The Next Generation-Ep 3 The Survivors
[6:00PM] Top Gear-Episode 3
[7:00PM] Top Gear-Episode 4
[8:00PM] Top Gear: Best Of 10-11-Episode 3 NEW
[9:00PM] Top Gear: Best Of 10-11-Episode 4 NEW
[10:00PM] Top Gear-Episode 1
[11:00PM] Top Gear: Best Of 10-11-Episode 3
[12:00AM] Top Gear: Best Of 10-11-Episode 4
[1:00AM] Top Gear-Episode 1
[2:00AM] Top Gear: Best Of 10-11-Episode 3
[3:00AM] Top Gear: Best Of 10-11-Episode 4
[4:00AM] Top Gear-Episode 1
[5:00AM] BBC World News (ALL TIMES EST)
Bravo has 'Real Housewives Of Atlanta', 'Real Housewives Of Beverly Hills', followed by a FRESH'Real Housewives Of Beverly Hills', and 'The Headhuntress'.
Comedy Central has '30 Rock', another '30 Rock', 'South Park', another 'South Park', 'It's Always Sunny In Philly', another 'It's Always Sunny In Philly', still another 'It's Always Sunny In Philly', and yet another 'It's Always Sunny In Philly'.
Scheduled on a FRESHJon Stewart is Leymah Gbowee.
Scheduled on a FRESHColbert Report is Thomas Thwaites.
FX has '2½ Men', another '2½ Men', followed by the movie 'Bride Wars', then the movie 'Bride Wars', again.
History has 'Stan Lee's SuperHumans', 'Pawn Stars', another 'Pawn Stars', still another 'Pawn Stars', yet another 'Pawn Stars', still another 'Pawn Stars', and, yes, yet another 'Pawn Stars'.
IFC -
[6:00AM] The Prime Gig
[8:00AM] Away From Her
[10:30AM] Distant Voices, Still Lives
[12:15PM] AV Club's One Track Mind
[12:30PM] The Whitest Kids U'Know
[12:45PM] Onion News Network-Today Now! Special
[1:15PM] Last Summer in the Hamptons
[3:30PM] Away From Her
[6:00PM] Malcolm in the Middle-Buseys Run Away
[6:30PM] Malcolm in the Middle-Standee
[7:00PM] Malcolm in the Middle-Pearl Harbor
[7:30PM] Malcolm in the Middle-Kitty's Back
[8:00PM] Slums of Beverly Hills
[10:00PM] Meatballs
[12:00AM] AV Club's One Track Mind
[12:05AM] Slums of Beverly Hills
[2:05AM] Meatballs
[4:05AM] Nosebleed
[4:15AM] Bollywood Hero
[5:30AM] Undeclared-Addicts (ALL TIMES EST)
[6:00] ALUDO BITES AMERICA: Denver (Episode 4, Season 1)
[7:00] AALL ON THE LINE - Between the Sheets (Episode 3, Season 1)
[8:00] AALL ON THE LINE - Gemma Kahng (Episode 4, Season 1)
[9:00] AUNLEASHED BY GARO: A Little Bit of Pain (Episode 4, Season 1)
[10:00] ALove Lust & Comfort Food
[11:00] AMY SO-CALLED LIFE - Other People's Mothers (Episode 10, Season 1)
[12:00P] Wild Combination: A Portrait Of Arthur Russell
[1:15P] Grizzly Man
[3:00P] Made in China
[4:30P] Wild Combination: A Portrait Of Arthur Russell
[5:45P] Short Term 12
[6:15P] Shooting Fish
[8:00P] Love Lust & Chocolate
[9:00P] GIRLS WHO LIKE BOYS WHO LIKE BOYS - Out of the Closet
[9:30P] GIRLS WHO LIKE BOYS WHO LIKE BOYS - Til Death Do Us Part
[10:00P] QUIRKY: Hell Yes (Episode 5, Season 1)
[11:00P] MY SO-CALLED LIFE - Life of Brian (Episode 11, Season 1)
[12:00A] Love Lust & Chocolate
[1:00A] QUIRKY: Hell Yes (Episode 5, Season 1)
[2:00A] LUDO BITES AMERICA: Raleigh (Episode 5, Season 1)
[3:00A] GIRLS WHO LIKE BOYS WHO LIKE BOYS - Out of the Closet
[3:30A] GIRLS WHO LIKE BOYS WHO LIKE BOYS - Til Death Do Us Part
[4:00A] Quiet Chaos (ALL TIMES EST)
SyFy has the movie 'Primeval', 'Scare Tactics', another 'Scare Tactics', followed by a FRESH'Scare Tactics', another 'Scare Tactics',
TBS:
Scheduled on a FRESHConan are LL Cool J, 12 year-old toy inventor Greyson MacLean, and Christian Finnegan.
Actor and voice of Ramon & Lovelace, Robin Williams (R) and wife Susan Schneider arrive at the premiere of "Happy Feet Two" in the Hollywood area of Los Angeles, California, November 13, 2011.
Photo by Gus Ruelas
After a tumultuous week that saw the departure and replacement of the Oscar show's host and producer, the film academy enjoyed a night of good vibes Saturday at its third annual Governors Awards. You might even say the force was with the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
Armed "Star Wars" storm troopers ensured guests were in their seats and paying attention as Darth Vader opened the evening honoring James Earl Jones, Oprah Winfrey and makeup artist Dick Smith. Under Vader's helmet was academy president Tom Sherak, who welcomed the audience of industry insiders with, "How was your week?"
Over the past week, Oscar producer Brett Ratner and host Eddie Murphy resigned and were replaced with producer Brian Grazer and host Billy Crystal. Ratner departed the Oscar show amid criticism of his use of a pejorative term for gay men at a screening of the director's action comedy "Tower Heist," which stars Murphy.
Saturday's untelevised Governors Awards, though, couldn't have been smoother, as Jones, Smith and Winfrey accepted Oscar statuettes in front of a starry crowd that included John Travolta, Alec Baldwin, Woody Harrelson, Sharon Stone, Seth Rogen, Sidney Poitier and Tyler Perry, among others.
Jones, who famously voiced Vader, accepted his award by video from London's Wyndham Theater, where he is starring in "Driving Miss Daisy" with Vanessa Redgrave. Baldwin and Glenn Close feted the actor before Sir Ben Kingsley presented him with his Oscar onstage in London.
British actress Joely Richardson, left, with Vanessa Redgrave, second from right, points out U.S actor James Earl Jones, right, to Meryl Streep, centre left, at a central London cinema for an evening to pay homage to the British Oscar-winning actress, called 'An Academy Salute to Vanessa Redgrave', Sunday, Nov. 13, 2011.
Photo by Joel Ryan
The sound of insistent drumming bounces off the sides of nearby office towers announcing the location of the Occupy Wall Street home base long before its inhabitants are otherwise seen or heard.
Turn a corner in Zuccotti Park and you're likely to run into a drum circle or find someone strumming a guitar. Maybe it's an amateur trying to keep spirits up, or it could be the real deal - recording artists such as David Crosby and Graham Nash.
Music and musicians are woven into the fabric of the Occupy Wall Street protest, much as they were in movements, confrontations and protests of the past, from the American Revolution to slavery to the Civil War, suffrage movement, labor movement, civil rights movement and Vietnam War. But no defining anthem such as "We Shall Overcome" or "Which Side Are You On" has yet emerged for the protesters who have taken on corporate America.
"Every successful progressive social movement has a great soundtrack. The soundtrack (for Occupy Wall Street) is just as democratic and grass roots as the movement," said singer Tom Morello, who was given an MTV online music award for his performance of "The Fabled City" at Zuccotti Park last month. A clip of the performance has spread widely online.
Morello, who performs solo as The Nightwatchman and was a member of Rage Against the Machine, has also brought his guitar and sung at Occupy demonstrations in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, Vancouver, British Columbia, and Nottingham and Newcastle, England. Just before midnight Wednesday, he performed near a darkened kitchen area at a demonstration in London.
A protester carries a placard in front of the Reichstag building during an Occupy Berlin protest denouncing current banking and financial industry practices in Berlin November 12, 2011.
Photo by Pawel Kopczynski
The gods of ancient Greece have extended their rule to the weekend box office with a No. 1 debut for the action tale "Immortals."
The story of Greek hero Theseus took in $32 million domestically, while Adam Sandler's comedy "Jack and Jill" opened at No. 2 with $26 million, according to studio estimates Sunday.
The new movies bumped the animated hit "Puss in Boots" to the No. 3 spot after two weekends at the top. "Puss in Boots" earned $25.5 million, raising its domestic total to $108.8 million.
Director Clint Eastwood's "J. Edgar," a film biography starring Leonardo DiCaprio as longtime FBI boss J. Edgar Hoover, played in narrower release and opened at No. 5 with $11.5 million.
Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to Hollywood.com. Where available, latest international numbers are also included. Final domestic figures will be released Monday.
1. "Immortals," $32 million ($36 million international).
2. "Jack and Jill," $26 million ($2.7 million international).
3. "Puss in Boots," $25.5 million ($4.5 million international).
4. "Tower Heist," $13.2 million ($7.6 million international).
5. "J. Edgar," $11.5 million.
6. "A Very Harold & Kumar 3D Christmas," $5.9 million.
7. "In Time," $4.2 million ($8.5 million international).
8. "Paranormal Activity 3," $3.6 million ($7.1 million international).
9. "Footloose," $2.7 million.
10. "Real Steel," $2 million ($12 million international).
You have reached the Home page of BartCop Entertainment.
Make yourself home, take your shoes off...
Go ahead, scratch it if it itches.
The idea is to have fun.
Do you have something to say?
Anything that increased your blood pressure, or, even better, amused or entertained?
Do you have a great album no one's heard?
How about a favorite TV show, movie, book, play, cartoon, or legal amusement?
A popular artist that just plain pisses you off?
A box set the whole world should own?
Vile, filthy rumors about Republican hypocrites?
Just plain vile, filthy rumors?
This is your place.
wrote:
took the day off.
